It will prevent Rockets games form being shown as well. As long as the Astros are tied to CSN, and are the majority owners, they will not allow any deals to be made that make it prohibitive for them to be competitive. Also, comcast has to pay the Astros their rights fees. If they don't, I don't see how the Astros are contractually obligated to the network.... chapter 11 or not.
It depends. This is closest to what the Rockets wanted. But the outcome, to a large extent, depends if the Astros' media rights are assignable. If they aren't, this just drags things out but ultimately the Astros still control the process since they control their rights, albeit not in the way they wanted. If they are, the Astros basically lose all their leverage. Note this: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Basta: “It is crystal clear that if this thing were ever in bankruptcy, we would exercise the right to terminate.”</p>— David Barron (@dfbarron) <a href="https://twitter.com/dfbarron/statuses/430812369745235968">February 4, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> So the key question is whether they will be allowed to terminate. If they can take their media rights back (in which case, the Rockets would too), then CSN-H becomes kind of worthless, bankruptcy or not.
Isgur: “What we have here is an entity that is important to our community and an entity that has very capable people that are (in charge) and it is an entity that if properly operated by its fiduciaries can succeed and reorganize.” Clearly, this shapes up at the moment as a win for Comcast's and the Rockets' points of view and a setback for the Astros' arguments. The Astros, of course, can appeal, Not clear yet if they will do so. Judge is still on the bench typing an order in the case. What this means is CSN Houston will continue in business as a debtor in possession while efforts to reorganize commence. Jose de Jesus Ortiz @OrtizKicks The Astros are now on a 16-game losing streak, suffering their biggest defeat to date, albeit in federal bankruptcy court.
The Rockets games weren't being televised any way. They were not trying to do an end around on CSN-H like Crane is trying. As for the rights fees, if they are allowed to sign carriage deals under the judges approval, they will have enough revenue to pay the rights fees.
We've already been through the math many times over here, but the only offer that was on the table didn't generate any additional revenues. It would only generate additional revenues if other people came on board at the offered price, which no one had indicated they were willing to do at the time. It relies on a theory that others will jump on board if DTV does.
Whatever happens, it still doesn't change the fact that the "experts" around here predicting the case would be thrown out were dead f'n wrong.
Once a satellite provider is is on board, then anyone would be able to see the games that has that service and anyone who doesn't can easily switch to the satellite provider. If DTV signs the others will follow when they start losing customers. This is why they were stupid to start this venture with a cable company since they are limited by their infrastructure. Had they started with Direct TV it is doubtful it would have come to this.
Being in the baseball business means losing money? That is the dumbest thing ever. Drayton McLane, Jr. gutted this franchise and left Crane holding the bag. I don't see how Crane is getting grief from the fans, McLane ripped the copper pipes from the house and put on a fresh coat of whitewash.
If Crane pulls his media rights and Comcast is left holding a worthless company owing millions to the Astros I don't see how you have a point.
Drayton stripped the team down the same way John McMullen stripped it down when McLane bought it. He was trying to get the operational cost down so that a broke dick like Crane could run it.
This isn't necessarily the case. Dish, for example, has generally been the low-cost provider and has a history of avoiding sports in exchange for being able to offer their service at a lower cost. I don't know who all the other providers are out there, though, and what their market shares are. Let's also remember that the Rockets have been trying the last few months to negotiate a deal and have been unable to do so to their own satisfaction; this was after the Astros tried as well. So what deals are out there that people are willing to accept is unclear. Comcast wanted a 3rd party in charge to overrule everyone, but that option has been dropped.
Time Warner Cable, ATT U-Verse,and Dish are the other major providers as well as a host of smaller cable companies. I guess we will all have to wait and see what happens. Maybe Refman and/or Mad Max can shed some light on what could happen under Chap 11.
Probably because Comcast is still the largest single cable/satellite provider in Houston, and it guaranteed them the most wide-spread coverage off the bat. They've also had more of a track record in other major markets for sports networks than DTV did (Philly, Chicago).
